Ebook 107 (Final)

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WINTER 2018CONTENTSDESTINATIONS E-BOOK!Now in:April at Ningaloo Go to:wFesoterrnM4wodrriveer.com.au- A rejuvenating week on the beach__________________________ 8Across the Madigan Line - with Denis Bartell__________________________________________ 82A busy Bee Weekend - over and under the limestone ____________________________ 150A Look at Cook - The Kerrs on the right side of the tracks____________________ 184 TESTING Series 3 Navara - Rob Robson checks out Nissan’s latest incarnation__________ 68 The Noble Patriot - Alex Garner looks at a Military style camper______________ 112 Eclipse Cross over__________________________________________ 1774 Western 4W Driver #107

FEATURESTom’s Truck - 79 Tough for Touring_________________________________________ 26From Forge to Finish - The Ed tries his hand at Custom knife making_________________ 42A Load of Hot Air? - Ben Broeder on Pollution controls___________________________ 103How to Speak 4WD - Susie takes an irreverent look at our sacred lingo______________ 131Outback Adventurer - Ron Moon chats to a Legend_______________________________ 171Weighty Issues - A reader does some adding up____________________________ 180REGULARS COLUMNSOver the Bonnet 35What’s New 57 EdSed 6 Wildtrax 51Popular Botanics 110 What’s in a Name 53 Bindon’s Lore 95Happy Dayz 126 The Things you See 123 Clewed Up 167Gear to Go Camping 137Fishy Business 145Goings On 194Subscriptions 196 BITS & BOBSAdvertisers Index 198Silly Snaps 200 Clearing the Air 163 Western 4W Driver #107 5

Westate On Particulates Publishers Pty Ltd Got a call the other day from the bush. Some ACN 009 360 169 mates were well off tracks out in the Great PO Box 510, Victoria Desert when one of their vehicles Kalamunda, lost power and started pumping black smoke. WA 6926 Turns out the catalytic converter was blocked up Phone: (08) 9291 8303 and had to be removed before the vehicle could Email: continue on. Just another one to add to the many [email protected] anecdotes circulating about the pitfalls of diesel Editor pollution control. Others include Diesel Particulate Nick Underwood Filters igniting the bush and the vehicle during the Contributing Writers regeneration process - fire fighting vehicles now Phil Bianchi have exemptions, I’m told - through to Exhaust Gas Peter Bindon Recirculation carboning up and ultimately blocking Linda Bloffwitch inlet manifolds and EGR valves. John Bormolini Ben Broeder Each story another nail in the pollution control Amanda Burton coffin and a tick for the anti-4WD sentiment in Graham Cahill our cities. Jo Clews It’s been a long road to diesel efficiency from Ray Cully the days of the naturally aspirated oiler. From Neil Dowling improvements to injection to turbos to common Ian Elliot rail and ECUs and the refinement of fuel to Alex Garner allow these systems to develop, engines today Chris Harwood are pumping out power and torque figures the Colin Kerr stuff of dreams in the 70s and early 80s. They’re Kristina Lemson also apparently pumping out far more refined Lyn Mitchell particulate matter that has specifically caused Ron Moon a noticeable spike in lung cancer rates of diesel Rob Robson mechanics prompting the regulations we now see. Susie Underwood I’m not going into detail here because there’s no room and you’ll read all about it in Ben Broeder’s Advertising series starting this issue, but I’m interested in the Nick Underwood attitudinal aspects of what’s evolving. Administration We all hail to the Europeans at the forefront of Marilyn Dawson diesel pollution research and the establishment of Typesetting Euro standards currently being exported around the world. It’s easy to understand how massive BENSON population densities in Western Europe and the ADVERTISING Printing Vanguard PressDisclaimer: The views expressedin this publication are notnecessarily those of WestatePublishers Pty Ltd or the editorsbut those of the authors whoaccept sole responsibility andliability for them. While everycare is taken with images &photographs, and all othermaterial submitted, WestatePublishers Pty Ltd accepts noliability for loss or damage.Edition 107Winter 2018

Particularly SEd ed with Nick Underwood regulatory power of the E.U would combine to force manufacturers to come up with pollution efficiencies that would lead to cleaner air than that haunting major cities in industrialised regions. The process however is fraught with difficulties and Volkswagen, as an example, soon worked out that reducing pollution and compromising fuel economy figures didn’t sell enough cars in countries where Euro standards were still catching up (ultimately to their detriment). Population density is the heartland of anti-pollution sentiment and understandably so. There’s already talk of banning diesels in London altogether and I think if I had to sit in slow-moving traffic twice a day on the commute, I’d be going electric with a very good filtration system. How cyclists weaving their way to work through the congestion and fumes are faring in the respiratory department I shudder to think. Further from the cities in the cleaner country air, the issue of air pollution probably has less import. Those working the land would (or should) be very conscious of global pollution and its effect on climate change and therefore flow-on to season and sustainability, but even that is overshadowed by the immediate need to make hay while the sun shines, keep food on the table and the wolf from the door. The other issue is our aversion to being told what to do. We love to celebrate our democracy by railing against regulation. It’s the fall-back position we use even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. To support our argument here, we dig into our bank of anecdotal evidence (which in this case appears to hold a fair amount of water) and put that up as a challenge to the regulators and manufacturers to come up with answers that won’t adversely affect our vehicles or our wallets. On the face of it, pollution control systems like EGR and DPFs have flaws to be overcome before Australian diesel owners can have faith in their efficiency, can accept a DPF replacement cost that doesn’t look like blatant gouging (current prices are well in the $1000s) and can embrace regulations that should ultimately have the effect of improving the health risks associated with diesel pollution. The good news is the solution is not entirely out of our hands and over the next two editions Ben Broeder will explain how you can contribute to the effectiveness of these systems on your 4WD and potentially add a positive anecdote to the conversation. Western 4W Driver #107 7

Eyes shut, drifting off in the shade, touch and soundtake over. The heat and the white sand day burnthrough. Canvas and pole flap, flex and squeak, abushfly does two laps of my head and through therush of the sou’ easter, the soft background roar ofthe surf at the reef pins us down in... APRIL AT Ldccooroiorvarkesuitwgnliagantyeiboie(snmnsaiagnbinynet,fPhoNiircnien:ggySbaooluuuottorhweSaLictteahhftr3iaoo2ydnkeBmlaigyoh).ftful8 Western 4W Driver #107

NINGALOO Words by Nick Underwood Images by Nick & Susie Underwood Western 4W Driver #107 9

he end of March was probably a Narrowly escaping a head-on on the bit early in the season to head to tight tracks next morning we took Ningaloo with April still within a restorative truckie’s breakfast at Dongara and beelined for WooramelTthe cyclone season and daytime Riverside Camp and an even more restorative hot spa with a side oftemperatures maxing out in the high champers to clear the dust from ourthirties but combining Easter with a throats. Enroute a Pink Floyd shufflepre-school holiday period seemed like was a welcome distraction fromthe best time to get in before the rush. discussion of cricket heroes sullyingWith a bit of luxury (for us) in the form our national pride and allowed theof a Cub hard floor camper in tow and mulga miles north of the Murchison totopped up with our kayaks we pointed slip by in a steady stream of green.the Cruiser north late on a Thursday No good rain for three years was theaiming to beat the Good Friday rush. gripe from Wooramel Station owner, Justin and it showed. The goat-ravagedEven then Sandy Cape north of Jurienwas heaving with campers and we had The spa at Wooramel Riversideno choice but to head bush for the night. Retreat is a great spot to unwind after a long day on the road. country north of the Wooramel was a dry, barren dustbowl where high wind-driven topsoil streaked low level across the highway leaving a waste land in its wake. This scenario repeated itself on the Minilya Devastated by wildfire, Giralia Station topsoil was on the move thanks to high wind.10 Western 4W Driver #107

Dingos on the way inwere unfazed by ourpresence and lookinghealthy on a dietof lambs and kids(much to the stationowner’s dismay).Exmouth Road where vast swathes behind me, we escaped south in highof Giralia Station were on the move anticipation of an extended stay atfollowing a bushfire two weeks earlier. Ningaloo Station.On an overnighter in Exmouth we The turn-off to Ningaloo Station iscontributed to the local economy in fine 100km south of Exmouth and thestyle. A bit like Perth fuel prices leaping corrugated driveway runs 32km toinexplicably just before holidays, the homestead.Easter in Exmouth in some quarters Here’s a TIP: Don’t be in a hurry. Let allis a licence to gouge the unfortunate your tyres down to beach pressurestraveller. Late-booked accommodation and give yourself an hour to lumberwas a small, two single bed room with slowly along at 25-35 km/h pickinga noisy aircon for the kingly sum of your way through the land waves. We$165 per night. Walking up the road to saw plenty of car parts littering thethe local, they took a potshot at us with roadway - some probably from thetwo G & Ts at $33.50. We were shaken likes of the vehicles that raced past,and stirred. And if you want to avoid a suspension shuddering madly andfuel price slug at the main servo, grab with highway-pressure tyres doingsome card-only fuel at the depot just their bit to increase the severity of thesouth of town. The bright spot was corrugations for us.friendly service and a good price (for At the homestead we met Jane Lefroyan Easter Sunday) from Kim Watts at who, with husband Philip continue theExmouth Service Centre and Towing Lefroy family’s 84 year history withwhere we had a spare tyre replaced Ningaloo Station. We touched brieflyand balanced. My last impression on the State Government’s ongoingof Exmouth was of my own making attempts to relieve them of some primewhen I narrowly averted disaster at coastal real estate and a vital incomethe servo-my sixth sense pointing out stream, hired a porta-potti and tookthe petrol nozzle in my hand and the directions to our campsite at South100ml of unleaded I’d just mixed in Lefroy Bay.with my diesel. Putting that near-miss 14km later we popped out onto our little piece of paradise and home for the next seven days. A soft, white sand beach led the eye Western 4W Driver #107 11

Our home at South Lefroy Bay. The Cruiser backed neatly up to the awning for easy access. Black shower tent attaches to the LHS of the Cruiser for privacy and convenience. Extra shade cloth was essential.to crystal clear turquoise waters and celebratory champers toacross a calm lagoon to a long white watch the last rays of the dayline of surf that delineates Ningaloo sink behind a shimmeringReef. Not far along at either end of reef line before retiring to thethe beach the sea ran up to dunes luxury of our Cub Camper. Ienclosing our space and ensuring say “luxury” because apartwe weren’t subject to constant beach from two very brief stints in campers,traffic. Any visions we had of a beach the rest of our 30 years of campingall to ourselves were a pipe dream have been roof-topping and vehiclenever to materialise as we manoeuvred based (which could in itself, representinto our allotted space, set up camp luxury to a pup tent dweller) so theand met the neighbours who turned out luxury of being able to get dressedto be a lovely bunch and generous to standing up on a clean hard floor orboot, supplying our larder with fresh- diving onto a queen-sized bed was notcaught fish out at the reef. lost on us. Neither was the stainlessOur first day finished in grand style steel slide out kitchen under a fullas we sat at the water’s edge with a length awning. We weren’t going to suffer under the Ningaloo sun.12 Western 4W Driver #107 The plan was to stay in one place for seven days - something we hadn’t done for over 20 years and long overdue. The first day rose sunny and windless

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so after aligning the solar panel to southern skins reddening we retired tocatch the first rays we piled into the our solar prison under the shade of thekayaks and headed out to the reef. awning to read, write and battle it outWith no wind and little current, the on the scrabble board. This enforcedwater was crystal clear as we drifted relaxation took a bit of getting used toover coral bommies where flashes of and by mid afternoon we were readybrilliant blue and stripes of all colours to break out, don the flippers and flapfrom the abundant fish life dazzled. out for a snork in the lagoon. Obviously used to the presence of people, the fish life went about their business in and around the coral while lemon sharks and stingrays skittered away inOn a calm dayinside the reef andwith good polaroidsyou can see asclearly as you wouldsnorkelling.On the surface,schools of smallsilver smelt brokethrough and flewbriefly across our bows while large a cloud of sand. The Ningaloo marineturtles popped their heads up for a life never fails to impress. That nightlungful and a look around before diving with my hook baited with a piece ofback to the forage. longtom caughtWe finished our “... the line screamed off earlier, I cast outpaddle with the reel and I’m straining to into the dark toa swim in the immediate biteswarm lagoon keep the rod from flying off and pulled in awater before after whatever monster was couple of perch.grumbling on the other end.” There followedtummies urged a quiet period ofus back to camp for a fish feeding whenlate breakfast. suddenly the rod arched into theBy mid to late morning our window darkness, the line screamed off the reelfor frolicking in the sun had closed. and I’m straining to keep the rod fromWith my beloved recovering from a flying off after whatever monster wasmelanoma extraction and our delicate on the other end. The weight of the pull Western 4W Driver #107 15

suggested I’d snagged a big stingray A cloudy day signalled the end of ourbut the mad bursts signalled shark and solar power support.I was on the money. After a 20 minutestruggle my adversary appeared in the believed I could pass through this lifetorchlight just ten metres out in the without the need but there you go - Ishallows, side on and easily a metre met my Waterloo at Ningaloo. Nextand a half in length. I considered briefly thing we know I’ll be buying a winch.how the hell I was going to deal withthis beast when it obligingly gave onelast mad thrash, snapped the line andmade for deeper water. A stress-freeconclusion for both of us.Two days into our stay it becameobvious the auxiliary battery with solarassistance wasn’t going to maintainour two fridges plus lighting and waterpump. During the day with temps inthe 40s the 130 watt solar panel didan excellent job keeping the batteryup and the fridges down but at nighteven with the freezer off, the mainfridge rose to 17º and the batteryflattened. So on a day when the cloudcame in and the occy bait began topong in the fridge, we bit the bulletand braved the corrugated drivewayto scoot up to Exmouth and (horror ofhorrors) purchase a generator. I actually16 Western 4W Driver #107

The fish whisperer allays some pre- time of year.filleting fears. Back on the beach we punctuated our last full day with a late afternoon driveAnyhow the genny did its job, the out to the ruins of the Norwegian Bayevening ambience was shattered Whaling Station. Established back in(luckily the wind carried the noise 1925 by the Norwegian Bay Whalingaway from our neighbours) and after Company, this was one of two whalingreverting to one fridge, our woes stations in Western Australia. The otherwere over. in Albany caught 4000 whales betweenLesson learnt. For future longer stays 1913 and 1916. Such concentratedat camp we need more amp/hoursand probably a third battery.That night as we sat in the dark atthe water’s edge, rod in hand, astrong, very hot wind drove homethe point we were in exceptionallyhot circumstances. At the extreme,wind-whipped sand stung ourlegs as we crossed the beach andcanoeing against the wind andcurrent kept us level with camp andthere only for the exercise. But withoutthe wind, daytime temperatures wouldhave been in Marble Bar territory andfar more oppressive. Station owner,Jane Lefroy later told us the windpatterns had changed over the lastfew years going from variable speedsto constant throughout the day at this Western 4W Driver #107 17

it out somewhere near the reef. Josh said “GOSH!” (worse actually) and we jumped in a tinny for a fruitless search while Josh anguished over how he was going to break the news. By contrast our departure was quiet with a hint of wistfulness as we wound down the tracks and out to the highway. Not far down the bitumen a sobering sight reminded us of the importance of not driving tired. Clearing a crest, the scene before us was of a large caravan on its side, the tow vehicle, a Landrover, also on its side. The cops were there and the driver looked O.K. We assume he nodded off and in an instant, ruined his holiday. We certainly had no trouble staying alert after thatRusting relics bring IRONMANtheir own patina to 4X4the landscape. YEARSslaughter couldn’t be SINCE 1958maintained resulting inthe industry waxing and experience and wound our way south towaning over much ofits history. Norwegian camp near the Murchison River for ourBay had another burstof activity between last night. With no wind, no roar of the1936 and the mid 1950sbefore it finally closed, ocean and the familiar song of birdlifemuch to the relief we’resure, of the passing in the mulga, sleep in the stillness ofY E ARSwhale population. Today you get a the bush was long and deep. SINCE 1958strong sense of the activity this placegenerated as you wander through We love the adventure of coastalthe rusted iron hulks of boilers andwinching gear. camping. The swimming, fishing, IRONMANEarly next morning we were packed canoeing, long walks at the water’s 4X4up and ready to leave. The day before,one of our neighbours, Josh, sent his edge, champagne sunsets.new drone (a birthday gift from hiswife) up for a final run before they left Exciting and romantic stuff but whenY E A R Sand he quickly discovered how final all is said and done, you can’t take the SINCE 1958when the wind took it and dumped bush out of the boy.18 Western 4W Driver #107 IRONMAN 4X4

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Ningaloo Station is a 4W driver’s andfisher person’s paradise. You need a4WD to get to camp. Camp is right onthe beach. Inside the reef the water iscalm and the marine life is stunning. Atcamp there are no facilities, you have touse a porta-potti and these can be hiredat the station for $10 per day.You must take all your rubbish outwhich everybody does as the place isexceptionally clean. While we visitedearly April when conditions were stillhot and windy, the following monthswould be milder and more conduciveto beachside camping. What priceparadise? At the time of our visit $5per person per night. Compare thatwith serviced but structured campingin Cape Range NP north of Yardie Creekand as a 4W driver I know what I prefer.To book, go to the Ningaloo Stationwebsite or call Jane or Phillip on08 9942 5936. Excerpt from Hema’s WA State map.Taj Mahal on the BeachSome people do it well. Neigbours on an electrician by trade had no troublethe beach, Reidy, Sally, Mackenzie and keeping their campsite functioning forTully were down from Karratha on an an extended stay and central to thatannual pilgrimage for six weeks. Reidy, was a bank of 130 a/h batteries hooked Western 4W Driver #107 21

Tidiness is essential when you’re camped on the beach this long. Set for the long stay. When his leave is up, Reidy works four on, four off and commutes between Karratha and Ningaloo. Even a six hour drive one way doesn’t faze this fanatical fisher.up to solar with generator back- Sally are kings and queens of the semi-up. Their Taj Mahal on the beach permanent coastal camp.had a Jayco Expanda at its core Great to see.with utility and kitchen room onthe left, shaded wide corridoracross the front with rods linedup ready to go and on the right,the lounge room all completewith artificial lawn carpet.These guys wanted for nothing.Tinny at anchor, quad for gettingaround, two vehicles - one totow the camper, one for theboat and to do food and waterruns. If we reckon we’ve got the ‘on-the-move’ camping down pat, Reidy and22 Western 4W Driver #107

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26 Western 4W Driver #107

OM’STRUCK In a land of twin locked, overweight, 6 inch lifted ‘tough tourers’, it’s refreshing to see Tom Ledger doing it a different way with his 79 Series. Alex Garner investigates. Western 4W Driver #107 27

om spied the 79 series on a trip quick to snatch it up. The wet season into town outside of work in soon after put ringers out of work for 2015. Work at the time being as a bit, so Tom ventured south in the cruiser to land a job with ARB in Perth.Ta ringer on El Questro Station; Now, you can’t expect to throw a kid in a candy store five days a week, andand Kununurra being the town. The think he won’t take a nibble here andlocal Toyota dealer had got their hands there. It started with the bar work;on this mint 2012 single cab from 60mm big tube all round, from sidethe Argyle diamond mine with only steps through scrub bars to the winch60,000k’s on the clock. The Toyota bar. Tom has cleaned up a few smallbullbar was the only thing you could cattle and more roos than he can count;call non-standard; and its daily life dealt yet somehow you’d never know!only with a couple of potholes on thedaily run from Kununurra. Tom was28 Western 4W Driver #107

Slapping on enough lights to An MSA fridge slide gets the fridgeoverpower the sun, and lining down to working level.up five aerials; four of whichdo nothing – is thankfully not for a canopy design, all aluminium wasa trend that Tom fell victim to. the only way to keep the cholesterolTwo aerials link up with two down; but how to deck it out insideUHF’s; one for long distance without bursting the trousers?and one for around town. Tom Well…behind the gullwing doorssees himself driving plenty of lies Tom’s fitout. Now in its thirdeach. When night falls, just a generation; the previous builds werecouple of ARB Intensity LEDs too excessive, too heavy, or juston the bullbar, and a light didn’t quite work. Somehow it looksbar on the roof are sufficientto see by. The canopy build Bit of shelter, swag and the Weberis where most single or dual BabyQ cover Tom’s basics.cab utes earn their sumo-sized reputation; a constantbattle between an awesomelayout and a massive GVMproblem. From the original tray, Tomremoved the headboard and under traytoolboxes; saving what he reckons isaround 120kg of fat. When it came time Western 4W Driver #107 29

even bigger in here than from the Electrics are simple but functional. 120outside! Tom got handy on the A/H battery and ARB compressor fitscrews and glue here; and threw snug beside the recovery drawer.together a plywood frame overwhich he laid marine carpet. Rather Tom has left room here for futurethan having a full dividing wall expansion, hoping to install an audiobetween left and right hand sides, system in the near future.Tom settled on a half wall and only Okay, it’s starting to sound a littletwo lightweight drawers for his heavier than Toyota first intended; sorecovery gear. “Having a full set of we had best turn our attention to thedrawers stacked in here before was suspension. There’s an interesting mixjust too heavy” he says. of brands under here, that’s because inGenerally the right hand side of three years of owning this vehicle, Tomthe canopy is where the messyrecovery gear, wet swag and dirty has put a staggeringchairs go; while the left hand side is 170,000 kilometresfor food, cooking and of course the under its belt. Out ofbar, where his Weber BabyQ also all that travel and a fewties down. A row of cheap-but-effective different setups; theplastic drawers hold a selection of man has a fair idea ofpantry goods; and the 60 litre ARB what components hefridge/freezer sits alongside on its MSA likes. The vehicle gainsdrop slide. its four inch lift thanksUpon the front wall of the canopy is the to King Springs coils inelectrical installation. It’s nothing over the front, and Old Manthe top, a couple of fuse boxes fed by Emu constant 600 KGa 120 amp hour battery. The battery leafs in the rear, withreceives charge from either alternator two inch anti inversionor some 120 watt folding solar panels shackles. Superiorthrough an Innervolt 25 amp charger. Engineering comes30 Western 4W Driver #107 King coils and adjustable panhard rod dominate under the front skirts.

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A Smarttek 6 hot water system was fitted early in the build to keep Tom and his dishes squeaky clean. Cab is functional with comfy Falcon seats and the all-important drinks fridge centre stage.to the table for shock absorbers three inch Torqit stainless steel exhaust.all round, and also supplied the Follow it back and you’ll find it fallsextended brake lines. Keeping a bit short of the rear at the moment.the axle tracking true at the front “Something was rattling across theis a Snake Racing adjustable Great Central Road. I hopped outpanhard rod. Speaking of axle and the back part of the exhaust wastracking….many people probably hanging down between the leaf spring,know what we’re looking at next. and the fuel tank” says Tom.It’s pretty widely known that Another noteworthy mod you can’t seeToyota decided to widen the wheel is the ECU remap performed by AMVtrack at the front to fit that big V8, but Automotive here in Perth. Tom optedfor some reason left the rear a whole to have it optimised for the absolute100mm narrower. There are various best economy rather than powerways to correct it aftermarket, and gains. Together with an I-Drive throttleTom’s solution was to take the offset controller to control throttle response;wheels approach. Whether one chooses Tom reckons the beast gets 13-14 litresthis, or wheel spacers – you’re always per hundred out of the standard 145going to chew out axle seals faster with litre tank. Pretty good on a four inch liftthat extra stress. Every 20,000k’s or and big tyres!so he reckons! The 315/75 tyres don’t “Well…That’s not a standard Toyotahelp that either, although the tyres are seat!” is the first thing I remark uponsomething he speaks highly of. Tom jumping into the cab. “Nope! Fordsays: “I’ve done about 40,000k’s on the Falcon XR seats” says Tom. They’reGeneral Grabber X3 muddies and I’m an easy bolt in fit apparently, with thevery pleased with them. No punctures use of a bracket made by HuricanFab;yet!” (I hope you’re touching wood if a mob over in Victoria. Supafit Seatyou’re reading this mate!)Under the bonnet is about the most Western 4W Driver #107 33factory looking thing I’ve ever seen ona four wheel drive. Not including onesthat have just rolled out of the factory.Not even a second battery lives underhere; that is tucked away in the canopy.Look close enough and you’ll see the

covers knocked up the a setup that’s served him well, and I’mcamo canvas seat covers sure it will do so for many more years.for them, and Tom crafted Tom would like to thank the following:his own centre console to Andrew Fardon at Off Road Equipment,fill the void between them. Scott Montgomery at Redarc,A Waeco thermo-electric MarkTaylor at AMV Automotive,cooler sits here to keep Tim Crabtree at Rhino Rack,his drinks somewhere Simon Ash at Midland 4WD Centre,below Kimberly cool. The Jason atTLC (Toyota Landcruiser Care),factory stereo is swapped Ian Glyde at HEMA.out for something a bitnicer from Pioneer, Tom’sphone mounts on the dashfor GPS duties, and anMSA dash organiser keepseverything somewhattidy. Better not forget tomention the Outback Accessoriesroof console, that’s thecommunications hub!So where to now Tom? Well with two orthree holidays a year booked to exploreout of state, it sounds like the 79 hasits work cut out! “There are a few littlethings I’d like to add, and change;mostly in the canopy” he says. But it’sFTuNColiSlysrueroAsaiatavsnaatnegiCLrPleaaoaanbvotnderfldeors.l34 Western 4W Driver #107

WINA UH 9080 UHF Radiofrom our mates at With their wealth of experience at punishing drivers for their‘keeping you connected’ misdemeanours, this could equally be applied to contractors so they alsoOn Reflection stuck to the rules. Perhaps a precedent set in court - notNick. I noticed in the section “Over the guilty your honour, blinded by a roadBonnet” people discussing the sign - might get things moving.disturbing feature of reflective road Cheers,signs and higher powered light bars Nickwhich create vision problemsfor drivers. Congratulations Pete. You’veA similar problem existed at Tom Pricemine site pit in the early 80s and we won the latest UHF Radioresolved it by applying the Australianstandard which advises on the correct from and a 12installation of road traffic signs whichrequired the sign to be erected with month subscription toa 5 degree offset to the direction oftravel. The point being that one’s lights Fourbies and Greenieswere then directed into the bushinstead of back into one’s face. Hi NickI listened to a Police dept radio talk-back I was amongst the invited participantsshow some years ago and this that attended the weekend andquestion was raised by a caller, the disagree with the conclusions that havePoliceman was aware of the offset been expressed by Phil Bianchi.solution but indicated it was all too 1. His article implies that environmentalhard and not done anymore. co-operation between the “greenies”I don’t have access to the AS now so I and 4WDrivers is unusual when in factam not sure of the current situation the WA4WDA has established a veryRegards successful model of mutual interest andPete Stainthorpe support with the Black Cockatoo Society out at Kaarakin.An interesting perspective Pete and 2. Phil writes of the “sadness andconfirmed in a call to Main Roads. shock” of 4W Drivers on discoveringIt points to an apathy among the damage to the environment.contractors and sub-contractors I would say not all 4W Drivers areemployed to erect signs who are happy unaware and I, as an experienced 4Wto cut corners and ignore the rules Driver, have strived to minimisebut it also confirms an apathy on the damage to the environment for as longpart of the authorities who are quitecomfortable dropping their standards Western 4W Driver #107 35and putting drivers at risk.

as I have driven off the bitumen. Renewed Interest3. Phil continues by saying that thedamage is done by 4W Drivers and March last year my dad passed. That’smotorcycles. While this might be true, another story .....he fails to acknowledge that Quad While helping my mother decide whatbikes, people traffic ( walkers), pets, to keep and what to give to Vinnies, Iferal dogs and cats also have an impact came across his library of 4wd Driveron the environment. All factors need to magazines, WOW! You folks have beenbe identified rather than purporting busy. He had kept every editionblame to a convenient group. since 2004.4. Finally Dr Mic Payne and others claim It’s not your typical glossy, correctthe Hill River estuary as a pristine area. English, incorporating more ads thanYet at the time asking for volunteers to stories magazine. There’s actual good,map the area because the area has not reliable information from a variety ofcomprehensively mapped or assessed knowledgeable people. I feel like I’vefrom a biological point of view. missed out over here in N.Q.Regards Don Speldewinde I’ve now become a subscriber and lookThanks for your feedback Don. forward to starting my own collection.It’s great to hear you’re building bridges David Johnsonwith others keen to preserve the naturalenvironment. Your dad was obviously a discerningOn points 1 & 2 I think we could safely reader David, so welcome to the fold, ofsay Phil was generalising in contrast to people who value the written word andyour quite specific examples. the experience of others.As an aside, without the Wilderness And yes we have been busy in a mostSociety’s involvement in the fight to enjoyable way - exploring the explorersave the Helena and Aurora Range, a in us all and our empathy with theplace enjoying high 4WD visitation, the Aussie bush.good fight could have quite easily been It’s a great lifestyle to share and welost. I think the workshop and whatever trust you’ll share our little mag withflows from that proves there’s plenty of others who might enjoy its content.common ground to be explored. All the Best,On your third point I think Phil might Nickhave been saddened because 4WDs werepinpointed as causing damage and he’s Dusty Dilemmaa 4w driver but I’m surprised that he was‘surprised’ to “learn of damage caused G’Day Nick,by 4W drivers”. I read what looks like a disappointingOn your fourth point, Mic stated that and I guess an expensive looking“... the Hill River Estuary was a pristine headline on your web site. I hope it’sestuary because of little impact on it not that bad but I know dust of anycaused by Inland land use and run-off”. colour in any make of engine is not theBe all that as it may, the story has happiest of outcomes. Trust you willdone its job of informing, giving food be back on the track somewhere veryfor thought and has encouraged you soon, with the bent eight in full song.to respond giving the whole subject a Some of the plastic air cleanerfurther airing and that’s a good thing. housings are easy to misalign and/orI hope we see a lot more cross pollination the clips fly off and you’re in trouble.on behalf of our environment. The new style air cleaner elements onCheers, Nick the new headers and tractors are pulled into place by suction, a big worry when36 Western 4W Driver #107

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it’s really dusty, particularly during interesting people who are beingatmospheric inversion as evening sets relegated to the status of inanimatein. Still pretty warm and dusty out in objects. Everywhere we read andthe wheatbelt. Plenty of snakes about hear, “the people that...” everybodystill. Good luck and keep up the good that....the person that.... when itwork or should that be good stories. should be ‘who’ for people and ‘that’Cheers for everything else. In magazines,John Flockart newspapers and on T.V, people who we respect as serious commentators areYes John, it was an expensive lesson reducing us to mere ‘things’ .in awareness. How can we have faith in politicians,It’s interesting that manufacturers the people who we charge with lookingwho put so much effort into creating after the interests of the country’svehicles with features that pander populace (lying and conniving for theirto our continuous craving for own self-interest notwithstanding)convenience, (some under the heading when they continually refer to us asof safety) are essentially saying, objects (not even subjects) through“you don’t need to know how to do their lazy language skills?this anymore because the car will Please teachers, let’s stop the rot anddo it for you” this contrasts with our pin down who’s who and what’s what.need for heightened awareness of Let’s make the people who matter,manufacturing failures in these same matter and maybe the world will be avehicles. The Takata Air Bag scandal slightly better place for it.comes to mind. The People ‘who’, the thingsMaybe we need to unscrew those ‘that’..... - easy.plastic covers adorning most modern Cheers,motors and have a bloody good look. NickKnowledge is power and I’d imagineyou wouldn’t be worth your salt Well Nick I think you’d get a warmas a cocky if you didn’t know your welcome at the Pedant’s Societymachinery inside out. although I think the entry exam couldHere’s to a good season. be arduous. As an editor I must agreeCheers, with your sentiment. Enthusiasm forNick correct use of language is on the wane. Maybe English is evolving to a simpler‘People that’ drive form so all I can say is, “their, they’re, there, don’t fret”. In a thousand years’me Crazy time we’ll all be using phonetics. Ed.Knock, knock.Who’s there? Power PointsDr Who.Dr Who who? Hi Nick,Exactly, and please labour the point. Help please. My son is thinking of puttingThe world is sliding off a literary a second battery into his Ford Wildtrack.precipice and dragging our relative He has been looking at a CTEK to controlpronouns with it. This is the sort of things. A few mags ago I recall you (orthing that English teachers who value somebody) recommending somethingtheir craft must see as the beginning of else. Can you recall please.the downfall of the English language Kind Regards- human beings, intelligent, creative, Nev Western 4W Driver #107 39

Hi Nev, I was thinking of putting some in just toMany people recommend CTEK and help keep the heat away from the fridges.I’ve not heard anything bad about them. Cheers.Back in edition 99, Lyn and Ron Mitchell Damo & Kaz.checked out the BM-Pro Battery/checkby Setec. Piranha also do a similar Hi Damo,thing. If your young fella is a bit of a The insulation comes in rolls from thetech head he’ll appreciate the APP used big hardware store and is very efficient.to monitor batteries via hardware on I glued it on with liquid nails and it’sthe battery itself. held on for 340,000 km includingIt really depends on whether he’s corrugations.looking for a simple monitoring system Cheers,or full on battery management system. NickSo long as he has a good idea ofprojected power usage, any good auto Got a question?electrician should be able to put him on Got an opinion?the right path.Cheers, Send your letter to:Nick [email protected] Coolers Everyone’s a winner!Hi Nick, Hope I find you in good spirits.Just a question do you have insulation inyour ute canopy and if so what type?LET’S MEATAT YOUR CAMPSITE PLACE OYRODUERR Select from our extensive menu Get all your trip meat from the little and we will: butcher with the big reputation. • Vacuum pack your meat by the meal. • Tag each pack by contents and day. Eg: breakfast - bacon & sausages, day 4. • Freeze for your convenience. 354 MARMION ST. MELVILLE Phone/Fax orders:(08) 9330 386340 Western 4W Driver #107

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FROM FORGE42 Western 4W Driver #107

You apparently can teach an old dog new tricks as the Ed discovered when he wandered down to Walpole recently to try his hand at CUSTOM KNIFE MAKING Words & Pics by Nick UnderwoodTOFINISH Western 4W Driver #107 43

y first knife came with a caution - strong, practical working knives I enthusiastically ignored. elegantly wrought. So it was with two friends Lee andMA gift with misgivings from an Harvey we fronted up to Thomas’ forge indulgent aunt, I set to work to produce two knives each from forgehacking the flesh out of a coconut just to finish in two and a half days. Startingbefore hacking the flesh of my right each with a billet of steel (which can beindex finger resulting in two stitches anything from leaf spring to a circularand a stern warning to take more care. saw blade) welded to a length of rodMy fascination for knives grew from we began the forging process. Fromthere accompanied by more scars and a furnace to anvil many times over webodgy attempt to create a dagger out of hammered our billet of steel roughlyan old file in the teens. into shape. First the point, establishToday I have more knives than I will blade length, draw down the edge,ever use but none of them were made allow a space for the ricasso (the thickby me - until now. part of the blade just before handle)I recently renewed my acquaintance before creating the tang - the part ofwith master bladesmith, ThomasGerner and his wife Elizabeth downat Walpole and discovered inthe process that I could, with hisguidance, create my own bladeware.Thomas has spent a lifetime honinghis skills (not the sharpest pun, Iknow) as a bladesmith and onemust assume the desire to createfine bladeware courses through hisNorwegian veins.The attraction for me and manyothers who admire Thomas’ work ishis traditional design Lee heats her blade in the furnace while Harvey (left) goes at it hammer and tongs under Thomas’ watchful gaze.44 Western 4W Driver #106

Fresh from annealing and a long way Blade is ground to final shape using to go. The hammer mark on the tang rough to smooth grit values. Regular is the sort of thing a confident smithy wetting keeps the heat down. can avoid. Harvey files his tang while his tongue helps with the concentration.the blade that fits into the handle andis usually ¾ the length of the handle.Sounds simple but the art of the smithis anything but to the rank amateur.From the furnace there’s only a shortwindow to master the relationshipbetween hammer, blade and anvilbefore the work cools and it’s back tothe furnace. For Thomas (who’s gentlehandshake belies his hammer strength)the hammer is an extension of his armcontrolling the force and angle of everyblow. Side taps on the anvil give pauseto study the work and where tostrike next.Skill in the forge could be definedas shaping a blade as close to thefinal product and requiring minimumreduction by grinding. Post grinding, the blades are re- tempered to create a hard edge and a softer spine. Western 4W Driver #106 45

Needless to say we did plenty Ricasso and tang filed and rubbingof grinding. back started.But before the grinding the nextartform of tempering comes into play. Filing the front edge of the ricassoAt the end of forging the blade is even both sides.annealed in ash then tempered througha process of heating and quenching to Then on to the bench for filing andtoughen the metal. rubbing back. If the hammering in theOnce the blade is tempered it’s time forge was hard on the hands, rubbing back was murder on the thumbs. While Lee got blisters on blisters, I managed to amalgamate a piece of one knuckle onto a grinding belt but in the end our toil produced blades that bore little resemblance to what we brought out of the forge. Fitting the handle brought me back onto familiar ground as I really enjoy working with wood. Lee and Harvey chose sheoak - Lee for sentimental reasons as sheoak was her grandad’s favourite timber - Harvey because Thomas found a piece of lace sheoak with a grain that was quite A slice of buffalo horn is glued onto the tang before the handle is drilled and fitted flush with the horn.to grind down to a finished shape.Grinding takes place first on thewheel then on the belt movingthrough coarse to fine grit beforetaking the job back for final temeringto harden the edge, keep the bladestraight and the spine softer.46 Western 4W Driver #107

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Before and after. Handle is ground down on a belt sander then finished by hand. Our weekend’s effort. Harvey’s at the wooden handle butted up back are for hunting/skinning and to that, glued and clamped. feature that beautiful lace sheoak I think we were all quite handle. Lee’s at centre - good working surprised at the quality of knives with an excellent match of bone our finished product and and sheoak. justifiably proud of our effort, but Thomas wasn’t surprised. He’s seenmagnificent. These handles started as many students equally excited by whatblocks that were drilled, the tangs glued they’ve achieved over a relatively shortin then ground, shaped and sanded tosuit their grip. period. ForMy handles were acacia, cut, shaped this supremeand polished in advance, which seemed craftsman,like a good idea at the time - except his thrill is,that they had to be reduced and shaped I’m sure, ineven more to suit the blade, then re- sharing aoiled and polished to finish the job. knowledgeEach of our knives had a slice of bone refined overor horn fitted up to the ricasso with the decades withMy two came out quite well and I think enthusiasticI’ve got the bug. Stone in the lower knife would-beis chrysoprase. bladesmiths48 Western 4W Driver #107 and that they may grow to take the tradition into the future keeping the age-old art of bladesmithing alive and slicing.